Ferghana.Ru news agency

Norwegian Helsinki Committee : Raids and arrests in Almaty after the departure of election observers

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:01:02 +0300

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee is disappointed to learn of raids and arrests of opposition politicians and journalists in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 23 January 2012. The arrests are connected to the ongoing investigation of the events in Zhanozen on 16 December 2011.- Authorities seem intent on cracking down on remaining opposition rather than to carry out a transparent investigation to establish responsibility for the many deaths during these tragic events, says Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee Bjørn Engesland.

. - We note with disappointment that this development comes immediately after the Parliamentary elections, during which the OSCE reported serious obstacles to the work of the country's opposition.

On 23 January, the security services of Kazakhstan carried out a number of raids on the offices and residences of opposition politicians and one opposition newspaper in Almaty. According a press release from the security services, these raids were connected to the case of one of the Zhanaozen activists, Ayzhangul Amirova, who is already under criminal investigation.

The head of the Alga political party, Vladimir Kozlov,the editor of Vzglyad newspaper Igor Vinyavskiy and opposition politician Serik Sapargli are all currently held in detention after lengthy interrogations. While the exact basis for the charges remain unclear, preliminary reports indicate that they are likely to be facing charges of inciting social unrest, a charge that could carry several years of imprisonment.

Other activists have also been interrogated and are likely to face charges.

- As a country of international ambition, Kazakhstan cannot continue to disregard the fact that civil and political rights are an inherent part of any modern and democratic state, said Engesland. – We have noted that documents to release our friend Evgeniy Zhovtis were submitted to court by the prison colony on 25 January. While this is a positive move, we urge the authorities to continue in the same vein by releasing opposition figures currently held in detention.

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee joins the international community in calling for a thorough and transparent investigation of the tragedy of Zhanaozen.

Committee to Protect Journalists : Editor detained, newsrooms raided in Kazakhstan

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:58:03 +0300

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the detention by the Kazakh security service, or KNB, of Igor Vinyavsky, editor of the Almaty-based independent weekly Vzglyad, and calls for his immediate release. Vinyavsky was detained in an ongoing crackdown by the KNB on critical media and opposition activists, which also involved a raid on independent broadcaster Stan TV.

At around 7 p.m. on Monday, two groups of KNB agents simultaneously raided Vinyavsky's apartment and Vzglyad's offices in Almaty and confiscated all reporting equipment. The agents took all eight newsroom computers and reporters' notebooks from the paper; and Vinyavsky's personal laptop computer from his apartment. Vinyavsky was detained following the newsroom raid, Vzglyad staffer Vladimir Rodionov told CPJ. The newsroom has been effectively shut down by the raid, but the journalists are looking to restore its work, Rodionov said.

According to a statement published on the KNB website, a criminal case against Vinyavsky was opened Monday, accusing him of "making public calls through the media to violently overthrow Kazakhstan's constitutional regime." The agency did not specify through which articles in Vzglyad he allegedly made those calls, Rodionov told CPJ. Vinyavsky is under investigation but has not been formally charged, Rodionov said. If charged and convicted, the editor faces up to seven years in jail.

"We call for the immediate release of Igor Vinyavsky and the return of all confiscated equipment to the Vzglyad staff," CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said. "The Kazakh security service must cease its crackdown on independent and pro-opposition media, including Vzglyad and Stan TV, and stop harassing journalists in retaliation for doing their job."

Earlier this month, KNB agents in Almaty raided the newsroom of independent online broadcaster Stan TV, demanding video footage and materials recorded during and after the December 16 deadly clashes between police and striking oil workers in the western town of Zhanaozen, Elina Zhdanova, a founder of the Stan TV production company, told CPJ. According to Zhdanova, the agents did not confiscate the materials but did copy all information from Stan TV's computers.

Five days after the January 10 raid, Zhdanova said, the KNB summoned all 15 of Stan TV's staffers for interrogation. The summons did not contain any information as to what criminal case was at issue, or in what capacity the journalists were to be interrogated, Zhdanova said. Although the KNB later told the journalists they were interrogated in relation to the events in Zhanaozen, the agents primarily asked the journalists about Stan TV's reporting, editorial work, and the financing of the company, Zhdanova told CPJ.

On Monday, KNB agents raided the offices and apartments of opposition political activists, who were also detained under the umbrella case of the Zhanaozen clashes, according to the Kazakh service of the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. At a press conference today in Almaty, local press freedom and human rights groups condemned the crackdown against critical reporters and activists, and demanded that the prosecutor's office clarify the accusations against Vinyavsky and release him, local press reported.

Head of the EU delegation in Uzbekistan has taken an office in Tashkent

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:35:02 +0300

Norbert Jousten

The EU’s Ambassador in Uzbekistan, 64-year-old Norbert Jousten used to head the EU’s mission in Kazakhstan in 2009-2011. On the 20th of January, 2012, he has presented his credentials to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has now officially taken up his office in Tashkent, says UzDaily.uz.

During a conversation with the Uzbekistan’s diplomats, both parties have emphasized the importance of strengthening the political dialogue. They have also pointed out that Islam Karimov’s visit in Brussels in January 2011 and an agreement reached between him and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso open up a new dimension to the bilateral relations.

An official statement from Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry says that “the establishment of an EU diplomatic mission in Tashkent will allow us to continue our politico-diplomatic relations and to develop multidimensional and mutually beneficial links."

As one may recall the opening of the EU mission in Uzbekistan had been the topic discussed by the President Karimov and the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso during the former’s visit to Brussels. In March 2011, two months after Islam Karimov visited Brussels, the Uzbek Ministry of Justice cancelled Human Rights Watch’s accreditation which entailed a response from Michael Mann, Press Secretary to the EU Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Ashton who allegedly said that the European Union would suspend the opening of a representative office in Uzbekistan. Later however, that statement was refuted by a EU spokesperson while also underlining that EU was strongly concerned with the Uzbekistan’s intention to shut down the Human Rights Watch’s office.

The first ever EU delegate has arrived in Uzbekistan already in May 2011: a political diplomat Ondrej Simek was deployed in Tashkent to take care of preparation activities, including site selection and obtaining required accreditations.

According to local media, European Union has been one of major partners for Uzbekistan in foreign trade, reaching $1,6 billion in 2011.

Fergana International Information Agency

Valentine’s day banned in Uzbekistan

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:58:03 +0300

Uzbekistan cancels shows and other events dedicated to the Saint Valentine’s Day, says RIA Novosti.

Event companies have been given an unwritten instruction to refrain from organization of similar events and concerts in the future on the Valentine’s Day.

All celebrations are going to be replaced with a “poetry day”, to be held on the 14th of February at the “Istiklol” (Independence) hall, while entertainment shows on TV are going to be replaced with programs dedicated to the anniversary of a famous emperor and poet Babur.

Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur (February 14, 1483 – December 26, 1530), also spelled Baber or Babar, was a Turko-Mongol Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty in South Asia. The main source for Babur's biography is a written account of his life, written by Babur himself. His memoirs are known as the “Baburnama” and are considered the first true autobiography in Islamic literature. The work gives a valuable impression of Babur's surrounding environment

Fergana had already reported the State Agency for Printed media and Information of Uzbekistan recommending that local mass media should refrain from any publication devoted to Valentine’s Day on the eve of 14th of 2006. The authorities argued that was not an “Islamic holiday”. Following such an unwritten prohibition, Uzbekistan has become the first former soviet republic that has banned Saint Valentine. Opponents of this celebration of love and affection argue that such a holiday encourages an open manifestation of passions, provokes an exchange of valentines, referred to as “messages of sexual nature between partners”.

One recalls that the Saint valentine’s Day has already been banned in neighboring Turkmenistan: owners of local restaurants are not allowed to organize parties on that day for the main reason that it coincides with the inauguration day of Turkmenistan’s president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

Fergana International Information Agency

Uzbekistan: The country’s “best bank in 2011” has stopped VISA credit cards operations

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:50:01 +0300

The Credit-Standard Bank of Uzbekistan has communicated a notice to its customers who use international currency VISA cards. According to the bank’s communication, customers can make transactions in foreign currency using their credit cards until January 31, 2012 only. Afterwards, clients are requested to withdraw their funds from credit card accounts.

For most of the bank’s customers the notice came absolutely out of the blue. Just a month ago, the Credit-Standard Bank of Uzbekistan was considered as one of the most reliable ones. Last December, it was named “best bank of the year in Uzbekistan” by such a reputable international magazine as “The Banker” (UK) for the second year in a row.

However, the name of the bank has already come up in similar half-scandalous publications before. Experts who closely watch the situation in Uzbekistan are well aware of the case of another commercial bank, named “Business-Bank”, which used to be the country’s largest private bank and had unexpectedly lost its banking license in 2005. Then, the bank’s principal share-holder and a well-known businessman Sergei Tsoy was forced to leave the country covertly under pressure allegedly due to pressure from the country’s government.

Regulator’s decision to withdraw the Business-Bank’s license had followed the owners’ refusal to sell off their business to another rapidly growing commercial bank. According to our information, that proposal came from the “Credit-Standard Bank”, allegedly controlled by associates of Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of the Uzbekistan’s president. We also have an information that the bank has discontinued its foreign currency operations with VISA credit cards due to a loss of a license for foreign currency transactions.

Fergana International Information Agency

Kyrgyzstan: Attorney Nazgul Suyunbayeva assaulted during trial

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:07:05 +0300

One of the defense attorneys was attacked again during the trial of Kadyrzhan Batyrov’s case on the 20th of January. Notably, the trial was for the first time attended by a former deputy governor of Jalal-Abad Taigozho Giyazov, as a defense witness.

According to defense attorney Nazgul Suyunbayeva who has suffered an assault the trial is frequented by crowds of people that have nothing to do with the court: “In particular, yesterday the court was full of members of “Sanpa Sheitteri” movement (relatives of victims of 2010 June events in the Sanpa district) as well as some other women who have nothing to do with this trial. They kept on commenting all statements, and chanting that Kadyrzhan Batyrov was guilty. As soon as the trial was over for the day, the crowd blocked the exit way for Taigozho Giyazov, demanding that the prosecutors should keep him in jail while women started beating him with their handbags. I followed Taigozho Giyazov and so they pounced at me too, yelling their threats. I then escaped to the second floor of the court building and stayed there until they were gone. Even though the Supreme Court publishes press-releases assuring of complete safety at the trial, this is not true. The place is not secure and anyone can attend the court.”

Importantly, similar attacks have been attempted before. According to a communication by Association of NGOs “Human rights advocacy center”, already at the first instance court, the lawyer was publicly intimidated by prosecution witnesses. Moreover, these facts went on television a number of times, with no response from the authorities.

Following the latest incident, the attorney wrote a letter to the chief of prosecution, and Supreme Court chief justice, demanding that safety be assured during the trial.

Fergana reminds that Nazgul Suyunbayeva is attending the trial as a defense attorney for Zhavlon Mirzakhodjaev, director of “Mezon-TV”. She says that the court originally appointed a public attorney but failed to inform the defendant. As soon as Zhavlon Mirzakhodjaev has learned about the trial he got in touch with Nazgul Suyunbayeva. “I represent him at the court now and communicate everything to his relatives, even though I do not have a direct contact with my client” - she said.

Next hearing scheduled for January 31, and Fergana is going to keep watching the trial closely.

Fergana International Information Agency

Uzbekistan: political prisoner Mukhammed Bekjanov is on trial again after 12 years in jail

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:05:02 +0300

Mukhammed Bekjanov

Mukhammed Bekjanov is a political prisoner who has served over 12 years in prison. In December 2011, just two months before the end of his term, he was falsely charged with violation of article 221 of the Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code “Disobedience to the prison authorities”. Prosecution has proposed to prolong the imprisonment for another 4 years and 8 months. According to Nadezhda Ataeva, head of the Association for human rights in the Central Asia based in France, the final decision of the court has not been made yet.

Mukhammed Bekjanov, a citizen of Uzbekistan, born in 1954, formerly an editor-in-chief of “Erk” newspaper, founded by an opposition political party under the same name.

In 1999, Mukhammed Bekjanov, was sentenced to 15 years in jail for “Encroachment against the president of Uzbekistan” (Article 158 of the Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code), “Encroachment against the constitutional order of Uzbekistan” (Article 159), “Organization of forbidden public association or religious organizations (Article 216), “Illegal entry into Uzbekistan or illegally crossing the border of Uzbekistan” (Article 223), “Fabrication of documents, stamps, blanks” (Article 228), and “Organization of criminal group” (Article 242), etc.. In 2003, his term was reduced by 3 years and 8 months as a result of an amnesty applied.

During the latest trial, held within a jail in the town of Khasan of the Kashka-Darya province of Uzbekistan on the 18th of January, 2012, three of his cell mates gave testimonies as prosecution witnesses. They spoke without looking in the defendant’s eyes. This gives rise to reasons to believe all of them have been made to testify against their will.

Back in 1999, during the investigation and trial, Mukhammed Bekjanov suffered from tortures. His leg was broken and he still walks with a limp. During his third year in prison he contracted TB in prison.

Mukhammed Bekjanov is a brother to Muhammad Salih , the leader of the “Erk” political party, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in absentia. Two other brothers of Muhammad Salih, Rashid Bekjanov and Kamil Bekjanov, were also arrested in 1999. Kamil Bekjanov was released from prison in 2003, after serving 4 years and following an amnesty. His brother Rashid Bekjanov was released in March 2011.

The Association for human rights in the Central Asia urges the UN High Commissioner for human rights, governments of democratic states and international human rights defenders to watch the case of Mukhammed Bekjanov closely and put a pressure upon the government of Uzbekistan towards his release.

Fergana International Information Agency

Uzbekistan cuts gas supply to Tajikistan without notification

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:38:01 +0300

Uzbekistan cut supplies of natural gas to Tajikistan on Wednesday, Tajik Foreign Ministry spokesman Davlat Nazriev said, RIA Novosti reported.

“TajikTransGaz applied to Uztransgaz to sign an agreement on supplying natural gas in 2012, but the Uzbek party postponed the signing of the contract,” Nazriev said.

Nazreiv added that on December 22, Tajik Deputy Prime Minister Murodali Alimardon sent an official letter on signing the agreement to Uzbek First Deputy Prime Minister Rusatm Azimov. In his reply, Azimov wrote that the issue of supplying Uzbek natural gas had not been resolved with the main buyers, i.e. China and Russia, so “the signing of the agreement between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan does not seem possible.”

“Today the Uzbek ambassador in Dushanbe received a letter from Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon to Isalm Karimov,” said Nazriev.

At the end of November 2011, Ustrangaz raised the price for natural gas for Tajikistan to $311 per thousand cubic meters.

According to the agreement for 2011, Uzbekistan should have supplied 180 million cubic meters, but Tajikistan received only 160 million.

Most of the natural gas Tajikistan imports from Uzbekistan is used by its aluminum plant.

Fergananews.Com

UN human rights chief urges judges in Kyrgyzstan to respect defendants’ civil rights

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:55:00 +0300

GENEVA (22 December 2011) – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Thursday expressed deep regret that the Kyrgyz Supreme Court on 20 December upheld the conviction and life sentence of human rights defender Azimjan Askarov, despite his reported torture in detention and serious violations of his right to a fair trial.

Askarov, the director of human rights organisation Vozdukh, was sentenced to life imprisonment and confiscation of his private property in November 2010 for the murder of a police officer, participation and organisation of mass riots and incitement to inter-ethnic hatred. Askarov’s arrest is believed to be related to his peaceful activities as a human rights defender, particularly his documentation of inter-ethnic violence in the Jalal-Abad region in June 2010.

Since their arrest, Askarov and some of his seven co- defendants have reportedly been subjected to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment by police on several occasions. Askarov reported having been repeatedly and severely ill-treated, including inside the court building. The torture allegations were raised at all stages of the criminal proceedings but no investigation was initiated.

“It is particularly alarming that the judges failed to consider the defendants' claims that confessions had been extracted under duress,” Pillay said. “Judges in Kyrgyzstan must ensure that the civil rights of defendants are protected, particularly when there are allegations of torture.”

Under international human rights law, allegations of torture must be promptly and impartially investigated by competent authorities, including judges and prosecutors. Evidence, including confessions, extracted through coercion, must be excluded by the court. The High Commissioner urged authorities to comply with their obligations under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which Kyrgyzstan is a party.

There are strong indications that a significant number of defendants in cases relating to the June 2010 inter-ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan were subjected to torture and ill-treatment to force confessions later admitted as evidence in court. In one case, even when a court recognised that the defendant was ill-treated in pre-trial detention, no investigation was ordered.

“The Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan must ensure that in those cases where inadmissible evidence might have been used, verdicts rendered by lower courts are reversed and criminal cases are dismissed or sent for retrial,” the High Commissioner said. “Criminal investigations should be conducted to hold the perpetrators of torture and ill-treatment accountable, and victims should be provided with adequate compensation.”

The trial of Azimjan Askarov is representative of the serious problems with the administration of post-conflict justice in Kyrgyzstan in the aftermath of the June 2010 violence. More than 5,000 related criminal cases have been initiated, but most such trials monitored by the Un Human Rights office have failed to meet fair trial standards.

Defendants have had inadequate access to lawyers and family members, while defence lawyers have been denied access to documents, undermining their ability to defend their clients. During Askarov’s trial, at least 10 defence witnesses were reluctant to testify, stating that they were afraid of reprisals by police officers and threats from relatives of the alleged victims.

“The conduct of police investigations has, instead of reinforcing the rule of law, led to further human rights violations,” the High Commissioner said. “I’ve been informed that lawyers, defendants and defence witnesses have repeatedly been physically assaulted and verbally harassed.”

Appeals court hearings have also been marred by intimidating statements, including ethnicity-based obscenities targeted at defendants, their relatives and lawyers. In some cases, judges have allowed such statements to go unchallenged.

“Judges must maintain their impartiality irrespective of the ethnicity of victims, lawyers and defendants,” Pillay emphasized. “Judges are the guarantors of the rule of law and I urge them to conduct their important work strictly in line with the Kyrgyz Constitution and applicable international human rights standards.”

Kazakhstan: Video from Zhanaozen of police beating up a wounded man

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:48:00 +0300

Узбекистану

New evidence shows that police in a town of Zhanaozen (Kazakhstan) has been using firearms against an unarmed crowd.

On a video found on YouTube, a crowd of protesters consists of oilmen, some young men wearing black and women. While some women try to calm young people down, the youngsters turn around and throw stones into a pack of policemen, carrying protective shields. In return, police opens fire, one of protesters falls down and appears dead. A few more people are wounded, one of them is caught by police and beaten up severely with batons.

This amateur video footage of police opeation dispersing a crowd of protesters has in the background the voices of women speak in Kazakh language and scream with fear over protesters shot and wounded.

As one recalls, as a result of riots suppresses severely by police, at least 14 people have been killed and dozens wounded. Unofficically, people talk of much greater damage.

Currently, there is no information as to whether any investigation of the use of deadly weapon by police is underway in Kazakhstan. A question remains if use of such force against unarmed protesters can be justified.

Fergana International Information Agency

Uzbek President Islam Karimov praises Eurasian integration efforts

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:56:01 +0300

Presidents of the most former Soviet republics (excluding the Baltics) have spent two days in Moscow on the 19 and 20 of December, attending the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, followed by a session of CSTO along with an informal CIS summit.

It’s been 20 years, since the collapse of the USSR, that former soviet republics’ leaders have been discussing integration; the recent meeting is not an exception.

Most observers were keen to hear the public statement by Islam Karimov, president of Uzbekistan. As one may recall, on the 7 of December, speaking in Tashkent on the occasion of the national Constitution Day, he emphasized his reluctance to join any international alliances that “might go beyond economic interests and acquire some political flavor”.

According to the “RIA Novosti” agency, the audience has not been disappointed. Not only has Islam Karimov praised the CIS as a highly promising union but has also stated that Eurasian integration is the “right way to go”. He then emphasized that development of the Common economic space, Eurasian economic council and the future Eurasian Union go in the most natural and appropriate direction.

Meanwhile, we remind that Tashkent has suspended its membership with EurAsEC since October 2008, remaining a member of CIS and CSTO.

Fergana International Information Agency

Kazakhstan: the US and EU grow concerned with riots in Zhanaozen. Russia appears concerned over economics

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:21:00 +0300

United States, European Union and OSCE have expressed their serious concerns about events in the town of Zhanaozen of Kazakhstan.

According to RIA Novosti, the U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said late Monday that “the U.S. is deeply concerned by the violence, and urged restraint by all parties to restore calm”. She has also shown her concerns over the communication breakdown resulting from riots and urged the government of Kazakhstan to handle this problem promptly. "We welcome the Government of Kazakhstan's stated commitment to a thorough and transparent investigation into the causes. Those responsible for any criminal acts perpetrated should be brought to justice in accordance with international standards", she said.

Earlier, concerns over the events were expressed by Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union: “the High Representative hopes that the authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan will immediately investigate the events and that there will be a peaceful solution found to the problems faced by the striking oil workers, through social dialogue”, reads a statement distributed by her spokesperson.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe chairperson-in-office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis in his statement pointed to the freedom of peaceful assembly as a fundamental pre-requisite for a democratic society. He also expressed his concerns in a statement at the measures adopted in suppressing the disorder: “any action to control crowds by law enforcement should be proportionate and in line with international human rights standards,” he said, according to Novosti-Kazakhstan. “The number of confirmed deaths is very worrying. I urge Kazakhstan’s authorities to ensure that the investigation into these events is conducted transparently and with the full respect for human rights. I offer my condolences to the families of those who died and I urge all parties to resist further violence”, Ažubalis added.

In turn, Russia has shown almost no reaction to the events in Zhanaozen. President Medvedev has appeared to be more concerned with the “overall economic situation in the world, and particularly in the euro-zone”. Answering a question about possible impact of the events upon the process of Eurasian integration, he said, as follows: “Political events in the territories of the union’s states, might somehow reflect upon a situation in a given country, but should not impact the process of building the common market and of integration of the countries’ economies”.

Russian prime-minister Vladimir Putin has chosen not to mention the situation in Zhanaozen when extending his congratulations to Kazakhstan on the occasion of the Independence Day on the 17th of December.

According to official communications, at least 14 people have been killed and dozens wounded since the 7 month long protests by oil workers in southwestern town of Zhanaozen descended into a violent confrontation Friday, December 16th, between police and protesters. Unofficially, people talk of over 50 dead, and many hundreds of wounded and arrested.

Fergana International Information Agency

Uzbekistan to build gas pipeline to China

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:47:02 +0300

The Commencement Ceremony of Uzbekistan section of Central Asian Gas Pipeline Line C was held at Gazli, 110 kilometers away from Bukhara, on Dec. 15, 2011. This is another milestone deepening energy cooperation between Uzbekistan and China, People Daily reports.

Central Asian Gas Pipeline is China's first strategic onshore pipeline for introducing foreign natural gas resources. Line C will be placed in parallel with Line A and Line B that have been built and put into operation, to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It is of significant importance to Uzbekistan for its diversification of natural gas export.

Line C is 1,840 kilometers long in total, of which 529 kilometers falls within jurisdiction of Uzbekistan, giving it a designed gas transmission capacity of 25 billion cubic meters per year. As Trans-Asia Gas Pipeline Company Limited scheduled, Line C is expected to supply gas from January 2014, by when the entire pipeline will have an annual gas transmission capacity of above 55 billion cubic meters

“Moskovskie Novosti”: an oppositionist from Tajikistan is being persecuted for having pro-Russian views

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:54:01 +0300

Khodji Akbar Turajonzoda

Another round of a “witch-hunt” is rolling out in Tajikistan against dissidents that do not support the president Emomaly Rakhmon’s policies. A renown politician and a theologian, formerly - a deputy prime-minister and one of the leaders of the Tajik opposition, Khodji Akbar Turajonzoda, along with his brothers, have been deprived of an opportunity to speak at their family mosque and summoned for interrogation at the office of prosecution. Turajonzoda believes his family is being punished for criticizing the leadership of the country involved into a scandalous case of Russian pilots arrested in Tajikistan and for being supportive of the Eurasian Union promoted by Moscow. Read further in an article by Arkadiy Dubnov, an international observer, published in Moskovskie Novosti today.

In his interview for Moskovskie Novosti, Khodji Akbar Turajonzoda claims that his family is being persecuted for a certain purpose pursuant to an order coming from the entourage of Tajikistan’s president. According to Moskovskie Novosti, at a meeting in Dushanbe chaired by president Rakhmon on the 9th of December, it has been proposed to punish everyone showing lack of loyalty to the Tajikistan’s leadership at the “moment of truth”, i.e. during the crisis triggered by the “pilots’ case”, lading to a confrontation between Dushanbe and Moscow.

Turajonzoda also believes that the country’s leadership is annoyed with his public statements in Tajikistan in support of the Eurasian Union promoted by Russia. The former oppositionist is confident that his country can not afford spoiling relationships with Russia that provides (and will long continue to provide) literally a source of survival for many citizens of Tajikistan.

Obviously, such a stance is in contradiction to the nationalistic policy pursued by the Tajikistan’s ruling elite. In this light it is worth mentioning that Turajonzoda’a family mosque is known as actively instigating the ideas of tolerance in respect to different ethnic groups, particularly Uzbeks.

The persecution against Turajonzoda and his brother has reached its peak immediately after departure of president Emomaly Rakhmon for a visit to Germany and Ukraine, since early this week. In Dushanbe, they consider this as an attempt to divert allegations from His Excellency (preferred fashion to address the head of the state in Tajikistan), as if he is unaware of the pressure upon his principal opponent.

Arkadiy Dubnov (N184, 16.12.2011) Moskovskie Novosti, page 4

Uzbekistan: European Parliament Rejects Textile Tariff Reduction

Ferghana.Ru news agency — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:21:01 +0300

European parliamentarians have voted overwhelmingly to reject the reduction of textile tariffs for Uzbekistan until the International Labor Organization (ILO) is given access to the country to examine extensive reports of forced child labor, Eurasianet reports.

Members of the European Parliament voted this morning 603-8 to send the textile protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the European Union and Uzbekistan back to the European Commission.

In the text of the resolution, the European parliamentarians "[s]trongly condemn the use of forced child labour in Uzbekistan" and "[u]rge the Uzbek President Islam Karimov to allow an ILO monitoring mission into the country to address the issue of forced child labour practice."

The MEPs further specify support for the ILO's request for "a high-level tripartite observer mission that would have full freedom of movement and timely access to all locations and relevant parties, including in the cotton fields, in order to assess the implementation of the ILO Convention."

Finally, evidently mindful of how such missions to closed societies run by authoritarian regimes can be manipulated and sidetracked, the parliamentarians spell out further conditions:

Concludes that Parliament will only consider the consent if the ILO observers, have been granted access by the Uzbek authorities to undertake close and unhindered monitoring and have confirmed that concrete reforms have been implemented and yielded substantial results in such a way that the practice of forced labour and child labour is effectively in the process of being eradicated at national, viloyat and local level.

Despite promises to end the practice of exploiting school-children, local government officials have continued to condone and tacitly encourage the practice, due to record prices for cotton combined with a scant harvest in some drought-ridden areas. The Uzbek government created its own monitoring agency to track child labor, but it has been inactive.

France: Human right activists extend their congratulations to Islam Karimov, too

Ferghana — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:49:00 +0300

Human right activists from a number of international NGOs, including ACAT-France (Action des chretiens pour l'abolition de la torture et des executions capitals), FIDH (The International Federation for Human Rights), Amnesty International-France, the French League for Human Rights (LDH), along with the Ardent Hearts Club and the Human rights in Central Asia Association gathered in front of the embassy of Uzbekistan in Paris for a public action dedicated to liberation of all political prisoners and protection of human rights on the occasion of Islam Karimov’s birthday on the 30 of January, 2012

Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan (by Journeymanpictures)

Fergana — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:07:00 +0300

Kazakh opposition speakers jailed for rally

Al-Jazeera — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:35:00 +0300

Villagers in Uzbekistan are freezing without natural gas which has been exported abroad

By Alexander Benois (Tashkent) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:53:00 +0300

Greenhouse gardening has traditionally been the major business and principal source of income for many villagers in the provinces surrounding the capital of Uzbekistan. This year, however, many villages have been disconnected from natural gas supplies forcing their residents switch to coal and wood for heating, instead.

Why does Nazarbaev need a multi-party parliament?

Daniil Kislov — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:56:00 +0300

Today’s ruling class in Kazakhstan has completely lost its capacity for an open political struggle in absence of administrative resource as an unfair advantage. All of a sudden, the political system cherished by Nazarbaev throughout the “years of reform and progress” has grown into a main threat for the desirable stability of Nazarbaev’s regime. The only way for him to win an election today is through suppression of opponents using force, courts, and intimidation, relying upon the dependent government and local self-governments, imposing political censorship and resorting to hypocritical support from his “Eurasian” friends and “international community”. Nazarbaev (and Putin) has long missed his chance for a breakthrough in modernization, following the Chinese pattern (on any other pattern, anyway). Holding out promises of fair elections and transparent competition, but sinking into lies, in reality, Nazarbaev unavoidably leads the country towards huge social, economic and political problems in the nearest future. The enormous gap between authorities playing the game of democracy and the ordinary people is ever growing. In case of another Zhanaozen, no satellite parties or the puppet parliament are going to rescue the regime

Kyrgyzstan: A nazi and a drug lord in charge of police in Osh?

Fergana — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:42:00 +0300

On January 11, a new chief of police was appointed in the Osh city police department. According to the local online news agency, the new police chief Suyun Omurzakov used to be a deputy minister of interior and a representative of the Kyrgyz ministry of interior in Russian Federation. Personnel of the Osh city police department confessed that new appointment of Mr. Omurzakov came out of the blue. In various media, Mr. Omurzakov has been regularly called a very influential drug lord, a leader of organized criminal groups and a loyal supporter of the former president Bakiev.

Reporters Without Borders: Tajik opposition journalist Dodojon Atovulloev stabbed in Moscow

Reporters Without Borders — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:12:00 +0300

Reporters Without Borders is shocked by the assault yesterday on the Tajik journalist Dodojon Atovulloev, who was stabbed in a Moscow restaurant, and calls on the Russian police to do all it can to identify his attacker and those behind the crime. “All avenues must be explored, taking account of the professional activities of this noted opposition journalist,” the press freedom organization said

"In Kyrgyzstan, corruption is not a problem for the state, it IS the state"

Andreas Hedfors — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:01:00 +0300

The Kyrgyzstani state should be understood primarily as a market for investing in public offices, claims a Swedish political scientist in a newly published doctoral thesis. Dr. Johan Engvall says ordinary political theory does not even provide us with the tools to understand the Central Asian republic, because in it, corruption is not an external problem but the very method of governance. The full-fledged cooperation between police and organised crime under president Bakiev was a low point, he says, but he isn't too impressed by the the post-Bakiev politicians either. At the same time, this state-for-sale can be changed, he believes, pointing at the Georgian example

Who and what’s behind the riots in Kazakhstan?

Daniil Kislov — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:24:00 +0300

If people show their discontent quietly, it can just be ignored. Once people take to active actions, they need to be “turned” into terrorists. This is the path chosen by the Kazakhstan’s government to counter actions of protests. If you can not calm the crowd down, for lack of brains or will, doesn’t matter, you have to demonize the crowd, and then start shooting. Afterwards, it would be nice to discover a bit of ammunition or leaflets by a banned Islamic party when searching activists’ homes. In era of a total Islam phobia and war on terror, such evidence could serve as a justification in front of influential partners in Europe, too

Kyrgyzstan: Who’s gonna rescue the victims of “ethnic tortures”?

Ferghana — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:20:00 +0300

Since June 14, 2010, the France-based Association of “Human rights in the Central Asia” has received a huge amount of complaints filed by citizens of Kyrgyzstan of Uzbek ethnic origin, reporting all kinds of violation of their rights committed by the law enforcement and investigative bodies. As a result of an over year-long monitoring activities, the association has compiled a list of tortured victims, convicted under some fabricated indictments. The Fergana news agency has published this list on the occasion of a visit of Juan E. Mendez, the UN special rapporteur on torture, into Kyrgyzstan

Security forces speak of illegal network of extremist organizations in place in the Central Asia

Ferghana — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:56:00 +0300

Special security services of the CIS-member states acknowledge the presence of extremist organizations within the Central Asia. «We have to acknowledge the existence of illegal extremist organizations, active in the countries of Central Asia. Recent events in the north and south of Kazakhstan, as well as in the Rasht valley of Tajikistan have shown evidence of extremists’ intrusion from outside and creation of organized groups within the countries of Central Asia”, said Moldiyar Orozaliev, deputy chairman of the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center, during consultations between representatives of security services and practical units combating terrorisms and extremism in the CIS-member states within the Central Asian region, held in Bishkek on the 9th of December.

Kyrgyzstan: Sexual violence amidst ethnic conflict

Human Rights in Central Asia — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:51:00 +0300

«Kyrgyzstan: Sexual violence amidst ethnic conflict» - such is the title of the new Report of the Association «Human Rights in Central Asia». Publication of the Report has been timed to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. From 25 November to 10 December 2011 An international campaign «16 days against gender violence» is taking place under the auspices of the UN. Even 1.5 years after the tragic events of June 2010 in the South of Kyrgyzstan it has not been possible to establish the exact number of victims of sexual violence. The experts of the Association managed to interview 12 victims, of whom seven women were aged 40 to 60, three women were aged between 18 and 40 and two were younger than 18. They all refused to disclose their names. Married women were scared that publicity would lead to divorce; unmarried ones were scared of becoming unsuitable for marriage

Q & A: Khudaiberdiyev on Kyrgyz trial, press freedom

Muzaffar Suleymanov — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:12:00 +0300

In late October, a regional court in Jalal-Abad, southern Kyrgyzstan, convicted and sentenced in absentia to hefty prison terms two ethnic Uzbek media owners, Dzhavlon Mirzakhodzhayev of Mezon TV and Khalil Khudaiberdiyev of Osh TV. Both men were tried in connection to the ethnic conflict that ravaged southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010. Authorities accused both media owners of stirring up the violence and participating in the mass killings--charges that CPJ research established to be politicized and unfounded. CPJ reached out to Khudaiberdiyev, who was sentenced to 20 years in jail, to comment on the prosecution and the state of press freedom in Kyrgyzstan

Almazbek Atambaev inaugurated as the president of Kyrgyzstan

Ferghana — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:20:00 +0300

In 2011, for the first time in the history of independent Kyrgyzstan, presidency has been peacefully transferred from one president to another with inauguration of Almazbek Atambaev in Bishkek on the 1st of December. The two of his predecessors, Askar Akaev and Kurmanbek Bakiev were overthrown as a result of two revolutions in 2005 and 2010. Only Roza Otunbayeva (who was appointed as the transitional president in 2010) has been able to give up the power in a peaceful and voluntary way. Under the new Constitution, the new president has been elected for a single term of 6 years with no chance of re-election. The inauguration ceremony has been attended by the presidents Abdullah Gul (Turkey) and Mikheil Saakashvili (Georgia), along with prime-ministers of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan. China, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Belarus have also sent their high level delegations, led by speakers and vice-speakers of the national parliaments. Other guests of honor included representatives of CSTO, SCO, OSCE, EuraSEC, CIS executive committee, Council for cooperation of Turkic speaking countries, EC, etc. The ceremony budget has not exceeded 10 million som (or $217.000), less than half of what was spent for inauguration ceremony of Kurmanbek Bakiev in 2009

Sex slavery: personal story in detail

Ekaterina Ivashenko — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:16:00 +0300

It’s never been a secret that women from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan regularly work abroad as prostitutes. Yet, few people know of details of such “labor migration”. Fergana has taken an interview of a person, citizen of Bishkek, who has worked as a prostitute in Dubai (OAE).